Wrapping material having a pull tab and pull indicia for wrapping a floral arrangement material and method

ABSTRACT

A wrapping material for both wrapping a floral arrangement and removing the wrapping material from the floral arrangement, comprising a sheet of material having a pull tab and pull indicia thereon, the pull tab sized to be easily graspable, a bonding material disposed on the sheet of material near the pull tab. A floral arrangement is utilized, the floral arrangement being wrapped in the sheet of material and being substantially surrounded and encompassed thereby, the pull tab and pull indicia readily visible on the wrapped floral arrangement so that the pull tab is readily graspable to remove the sheet of material from the floral arrangement, the removal being accomplished without causing damage to the floral arrangement. Methods of using the wrapping material to both wrap a floral arrangement and to remove the wrapping material from the floral arrangement.

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 07/865,563,filed May 21, 1992, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COVERING PORTIONSOF AN OBJECT WITH A SHEET OF MATERIAL HAVING A PRESSURE SENSITIVEADHESIVE COATING APPLIED TO AT LEAST A PORTION OF AT LEAST ONE SURFACEOF THE SHEET OF MATERIAL, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,245,814, which is acontinuation of U.S. Ser. No. 07/649,379, filed Jan. 31, 1991, entitledMETHOD FOR WRAPPING AN OBJECT WITH A MATERIAL HAVING PRESSURE SENSITIVEADHESIVE THEREON, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,638, which is a continuationof U.S. Ser. No. 07/249,761, filed Sep. 26, 1988, entitled METHOD FORWRAPPING AN OBJECT WITH A MATERIAL HAVING PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVETHEREON, now ABANDONED; and this application is also acontinuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 07/893,586, filed Jun. 2, 1992,entitled WRAPPING A FLORAL GROUPING WITH SHEETS HAVING ADHESIVE ORCOHESIVE MATERIAL APPLIED THERETO, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,364, which isa continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 07/707,417, filed May 28, 1991, entitledWRAPPING A FLORAL GROUPING WITH SHEETS HAVING ADHESIVE OR COHESIVEMATERIAL APPLIED THERETO, now ABANDONED, which is a continuation of U.S.Pat. No. 07/502,358, filed Mar. 29, 1990, entitled WRAPPING A FLORALGROUPING WITH SHEETS HAVING ADHESIVE OR COHESIVE MATERIAL APPLIEDTHERETO, now ABANDONED, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No.07/391,463, filed Aug. 9, 1989, entitled ADHESIVE APPLICATOR DISPENSER,now ABANDONED, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No.07/249,761, filed Sep. 26, 1988, entitled METHOD FOR WRAPPING AN OBJECTWITH A MATERIAL HAVING PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE THEREON, nowABANDONED.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to wrapping materials, and, moreparticularly, to wrapping materials having a pull tab and pull indiciafor both wrapping a floral arrangement and removing the wrappingmaterial from a floral arrangement, and the method of using same.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the wrapping material of the presentinvention showing the upper surface, the wrapping material beingtransparent and having a bonding material extending along one side, apull tab and pull indicia being located immediately above the bondingmaterial.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the wrapping material of FIG. 1, butshowing the lower surface thereof.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the wrapping material of FIG. 1, butshowing a plurality of sheets comprising a pad.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the wrapping material of FIG. 1, butshowing a continuous roll of material comprising a plurality of sheetsof material contained within a roll in a dispenser.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the wrapping material of FIG. 1, butshowing a continuous roll of material comprising a plurality of sheetsof material contained within a roll.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the wrapping material of FIG. 3, butshowing a floral arrangement disposed thereon.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the wrapping material of FIG. 3, butshowing a partially wrapped floral arrangement.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the wrapping material of FIG. 3, butshowing a partially wrapped floral arrangement.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the wrapping material of FIG. 3, butshowing a wrapped floral arrangement.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the wrapped floral arrangement of FIG.9, but showing the floral arrangement partially unwrapped.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the wrapped floral arrangement of FIG.9, but showing the wrapping material unwrapping from around the floralarrangement.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a modified wrapping materialconstructed exactly like the wrapping material of FIGS. 1-2, but showinga non-transparent wrapping material with no pull indicia on the uppersurface of the sheet of material.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the wrapping material of FIG. 12, butshowing the pull indicia disposed on the lower surface of the sheet ofmaterial.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the wrapping material of FIG. 12, butshowing a wrapped floral arrangement, the pull indicia being readilyapparent.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the wrapped floral arrangement of FIG.14, but showing the floral arrangement partially unwrapped.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the wrapped floral arrangement of FIG.14, the wrapping material unwrapping from around the floral arrangement.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a modified wrapping materialconstructed exactly like the wrapping material of FIGS. 1-2, but showingthe pull indicia as symbols.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a modified wrapping materialconstructed exactly like the wrapping material of FIGS. 1-2, but showinga first pull tab and a second pull tab and corresponding first pullindicia and second pull indicia disposed thereon, the pull indiciarepresented a symbols.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a modified wrapping materialconstructed exactly like the wrapping material of FIGS. 1-2, but showingthe bonding material extending substantially along the length of oneside of the sheet of material, the pull indicia being located to eitherside of the bonding material.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a modified wrapping materialconstructed exactly like the wrapping material of FIGS. 1-2, but showingthe bonding material extending substantially along the length of oneside of the sheet of material, the pull tab and pull indicia beinglocated at the upper end of the bonding material, the bonding materialhaving less bonding at the site of the pull tab and pull indicia.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a modified wrapping materialconstructed exactly like the wrapping material of FIGS. 1-2, but showingthe sheet of material as a trapezoidal shape, one side having ascalloped design, the bonding material extending along the lower side ofthe sheet of material, the pull tab being disposed on an adjoining sideof the sheet of material comprising an extension of the sheet ofmaterial, the pull indicia being represented as a symbol disposed on thepull tab.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a modified wrapping materialconstructed exactly like the wrapping material of FIG. 21, but showingthe pull tab and pull indicia thereon as an extension located at thesame level as the bonding material.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a the wrapping material of FIG. 22,showing a wrapped floral arrangement.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the wrapped floral arrangement of FIG.23, but showing the floral arrangement partially unwrapped.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the wrapped floral arrangement of FIG.23, but showing the wrapping material unwrapping from around the floralarrangement.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Floral arrangements are usually wrapped in a wrapping material, toprotect the delicate blooms and foliage from damage. And, the wrappingmaterial utilized frequently has some bonding material thereon, such asan adhesive or cohesive, so that the wrapping material retains itswrapped shape, and securely encompasses the floral arrangement in orderto protect it. This type of wrapping material, however, has itsdisadvantages.

A significant disadvantage occurs when the wrapping material is removedfrom the floral arrangement. Frequently, it is not obvious where thewrapping material begins or ends. When this occurs, the recipient of thefloral arrangement may become frustrated in looking for the edge of thewrapping material, and may, in a state of frustration, tear the wrappingmaterial away from the delicate floral arrangement, damaging the blooms,foliage, or both. A further disadvantage is that, even when it isobvious where the wrapping material begins and ends, it is difficult torelease the bonding material which holds the wrapping material about thefloral arrangement. The recipient may again inadvertently damage theblooms and/or foliage of the floral arrangement in his/her struggle tolift and release a portion of the bonded wrapping material from itself.As a result, again, damage to the the floral arrangement is likely. Suchdamage interferes with the recipient's enjoyment of the beauty andvisual quality of the gift of a floral arrangement.

The present invention contemplates a wrapping material which has abonding material thereon (the bonding material being described in detailbelow) which enhances the ability to wrap a floral arrangement. Thepresent invention also contemplates a wrapping material which is readilyremoved, that is, a wrapping material which also has a pull tab and pullindicia which permits the edge of the wrapping material to beidentified, and which permits the bonding material to be more readilyreleasaed from the wrapping material, so that the wrapping material canbe quickly and easily removed from the floral arrangement withoutcausing damage to the delicate and fragile blooms and foliage.

THE EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 1-2

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, designated generally by the referencenumeral 10 is a wrapping material which is constructed in accordancewith the present invention. The wrapping material 10 comprises at leastone sheet of material 12. The sheet of material 12 has an upper surface14, a lower surface 16 (one edge of the sheet material lifted forillustration purposes only), and an outer periphery 18. The outerperiphery 18 of the sheet of material 12 further comprises a first side20, a second side 22, a third side 24, and a fourth side 26. The sheetof material 12 also has a pull tab 28 and pull indicia 20, which aredescribed in detail below.

The sheet of material 12 is utilized to wrap a floral arrangement 32."Floral arrangement" as used herein means cut fresh flowers, artificialflowers, other fresh and/or artificial plants or other floral materialsand may include other secondary plants and/or ornamentation which add tothe aesthetics of the overall floral arrangement 32. The floralarrangement 32 comprises a flower portion 34 which may comprise either abloom or a foliage portion, and the floral arrangement 32 also comprisesa stem portion 36. However, it will be appreciated that the floralarrangement 32 may consist of only a single bloom or only foliage (notshown).

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the sheet of material 12 is square. It willbe appreciated, however, that any shape or size of sheet of material 12may be used to wrap a floral arrangement 32 as long as it issufficiently sized and shaped to wrap and encompass the floralarrangement 32. For example, the sheet of material 12 may also compriseother geometric and non-geometric shapes. When multiple sheets ofmaterial 12 are used together, they may be connected together orlaminated, or may comprise separate layers. Finally, it will beappreciated that the sheet of material 12 shown in all embodimentsherein is substantially flat.

The sheet of material 12 may be constructed of a single sheet ofmaterial 12 or a plurality of sheets of material 12. Any thickness ofthe sheet of material 12 may be utilized in accordance with the presentinvention as long as the sheet of material 12 may be wrapped about afloral arrangement 32 and removed from the floral arrangement 32, asdescribed herein. Typically the sheet of material 12 has a thickness ina range of less than about 0.2 mils to about 10 mils. In a preferredembodiment, the sheet of material 12 is constructed from one sheet ofman-made organic polymer film having a thickness in a range of from lessthan about 0.5 mils to about 2.5 mils.

The sheet of material 12 is constructed from any suitable material thatis capable of being wrapped about a floral arrangement 32. Preferably,the wrapping material 10 comprises paper (untreated or treated in anymanner), cellophane, foil, man-made organic polymer film, fibre (wovenor non-woven or synthetic or natural), cloth (woven or non-woven ornatural or synthetic), burlap, or any combination thereof.

The term "man-made organic polymer film" means a man-made resin such aspolypropylene as oppose to naturally occurring resin such as cellophane.A man-made polymer film as relatively strong and not a subject totearing (substantially non-tearable), as might be the case with paper orfoil. The man-made organic polymer film is substantially linearly linkedprocessed organic polymer film and is a synthetic linear chain organicpolymer where the carbon atoms are substantially linearly linked. Suchfilms are synthetic polymers formed or synthesized from monomers.Further, a relatively substantially linearly linked processed organicpolymer film is virtually waterproof which may be desirable in manyapplications such as wrapping a floral arrangement. Additionally, arelatively thin film of substantially linearly linked processed organicpolymer does not substantially deteriorate in sun light. Processedorganic polymer films having carbon atoms both linearly linked and crosslinked, and some cross linked polymer films, also may be suitable foruse in the present invention provided such films are substantiallyflexible and can be made in a sheet-like format for wrapping purposesconsistent with the present invention. For example, one such man-madeorganic polymer film is polypropylene film.

The term "polymer" is used herein means any polymer film. For example,but not by way of limitation, one polymer film is a polypropylene film.Another example of a polymer film, but not by way of limitation, iscellophane.

The sheet of material 12 may vary in color. Further, the sheet ofmaterial 12, may be consist of designs which are printed, etched, and/orembossed; in addition, the sheet of material 12 may have variouscolorings, coatings, flockings, and/or metallic finishes, or becharacterized totally or partially by pearlecent, translucent,transparent, iridescent, or the like characteristics. Each of theabove-named characteristics may be occur alone or in combination.Moreover, each surface of the sheet of material 12 may vary in thecombination of such characteristics.

The sheet of material 12 has a width 38 (FIG. 1) extending generallybetween the first side 20 and the second side 22, respectively,sufficiently sized whereby the sheet of material 12 can be wrapped aboutand substantially surrounded and compass a floral arrangement 32. Thesheet of material 12 has a length 40 (FIG. 1) extending generallybetween the third side 24 and the fourth side 26, respectively,sufficiently sized whereby the sheet of material 12 extends over asubstantial portion of the floral arrangement 32 when the sheet ofmaterial 12 has been wrapped about the floral arrangement 32 inaccordance with the present invention shown and described in detailherein.

The sheet of material may further comprise an ink, dye, and/or pigment(not shown). Such inks, dyes, and pigments are known in the art, and arecommercially available, and may be disposed upon or incorporated in thesheet of material 12 by any method described herein or known in the art.For example, the ink, dye, or pigment may form a portion of a design ordecoration on the sheet of material, such as flowers, leaves, and thelike.

The sheet of material 12 also comprises a bonding material 42. The term"bonding material" as used herein means an adhesive, preferably apressure sensitive adhesive, a thermal sensitive adhesive, or acohesive. Where the bonding material 42 is a cohesive, a similarcohesive material must be placed on the adjacent surface for bondinglycontacting and bondingly engaging with the cohesive material. The term"bonding material" also includes materials which are heat sealable and,in this instance, the adjacent portions of the material must be broughtinto contact and then heat must be applied to affect the seal. The term"bonding material" is used herein also means a heat sealing lacquerwhich may be applied to the sheet of material and, in this instance,heat must also be applied to effect sealing. The term "bonding material"is used herein means any type of material or thing which can be used toaffect the bonding or connecting the two adjacent portions of thematerial or the sheet of material as described herein.

The bonding material 42 may comprise varying bonding characteristicswhen disposed on certain portions of the sheet of material 12. "Varyingbonding characteristics" means less adhesion or cohesion of the bondingmaterial 42, that is, less "tack" of the bonding material 42. Therefore,when the bonding material 42 is disposed on a sheet of material, thebonding material 42 may have less bonding characteristics at or near thepull tab 28.

Further, the bonding material 42 may also comprise at least one colorderived from dye, ink, and/or pigment, as previously described herein.Bonding materials as described above, are known in the art andcommercially available.

A bonding material 42 is disposed upon the sheet of material 12,preferably on a surface, that is the upper surface 14, the lowersurface, or a combination thereof. The bonding material 42, aspreviously described, is preferably a pressure sensitive adhesive. Suchuse of adhesives, and particularly pressure sensitive adhesives istaught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,638, entitled, "Method For Wrapping AnObject With A Material Having Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Thereon,"which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

The sheet of material 12 comprises a pull tab 28 and pull indicia 30."Pull tab" as used herein means a portion of the sheet of material 12,near the outer periphery 18 of the sheet of material, preferably near atleast one side of the sheet of material 12, wherein the sheet ofmaterial 12 may be easily grasped by an operator (between the operatorsfingers, or between the operator's thumb and at least one finger) andlifted and unwrapped from itself and the floral arrangement 32. The pulltab 28 permits at least one of the operator's fingers to be slippedunder the pull tab 28 in order to grasp the pull tabs 28 and pull oneportion of the sheet of material 12 away from at least one other portionof the sheet of material 12. The pull tab 28 may be located near anyside, or multiple pull tabs may be located near one side or one side ormultiple sides of the sheet of material 12, as long as the pull tab 28may be easily grasped and lifted away from the wrapped sheet of material12, thereby causing the sheet of material 12 to unwrap from arounditself and the floral arrangement 32, thereby gently releasing thefloral arrangement from the wrapping material 10.

The pull tab 28 may form a portion of the sheet of material 12, or thepull tab 28 may form a die-cut extension of the sheet of material 12.Further, the pull tab 28 may comprise an integral portion of the sheetof material 12, or may form a small second separate sheet of material12' which may be separately attached, either after the sheet of material12 has been constructed (not shown), or after the sheet of material 12has been wrapped about a floral arrangement 32 (not shown). Located ator near the pull tab 28 is pull indicia 30. "Pull indicia" as usedherein means symbols, such as arrows, or a small picture of the liftededge of a sheet of material, or a round dot, circle, square, or thelike, or printed words, such as "pull," "pull here," "lift here," "liftto release," "lift" or any symbol or words which would indicate that thesheet of material 12 could be unwrapped by starting at that specificpoint, or any combination of words and/or symbols.

For example, FIG. 1 shows a pull tab with the word "Pull" printed in thethe corner of the sheet of material 12 indicating that removal of thesheet of material 12 from the floral arrangement B2 is to he initiatedat that point. That is, the pull tab 28 is located in the areadesignated by the pull indicia 30, and the pull tab 28 may be grasped toinitiate the removal of the sheet of material 12 from the floralarrangement 32.

The pull tab 28 and/or the pull indicia 30 may be located in on aportion of the sheet of material 12 having a bonding material 42 thereon(FIG. 20), or, alternatively, may be located in an area without bondingmaterial 42 (FIG. 1). When the pull tab 28 is located on bondingmaterial 42, the bonding material at the location of the pull tab 28 hasless "tack" or bonding, as previously described, than the remainder ofthe bonding material 42 disposed on the sheet of material 12.

The sheet of material 12 shown in FIGS. 1-2 shows the use of a pull tab28 and pull indicia 30 near the corner junction of the first side 20 andthe third side 24 of the sheet of material 12. The bonding material 42does not extend into this junction, thereby forming a non-bonded areafor the pull tab 28. Disposed on the pull tab 28 is pull indicia 30comprising a square, with the word "Pull" printed in the square (theword "pull" appears backwards in FIG. 1, because when wrapped, the lowersurface 16, as shown in FIG. 2, would be exposed, thus exposing the pullindicia 30 "Pull" correctly).

It will be appreciated that more than one pull tab area may be disposedupon the sheet of material. Further, more than one change in bondingcharacteristics that is, the bonding or "task" of the bonding material,as described above, may be disposed upon the sheet of material (notshown).

THE EMBODIMENT OF FIG. 3

Illustrated in FIG. 3 is a modified material 10a which is constructedexactly like the material 10 shown in FIGS. 1-2, and described in detailpreviously, except that the sheet of material 12a comprises a pluralityof sheets of material 12a connected together to form a pad 44 of sheetsof material 12a. The pad 44 comprises a plurality of sheets of material12a stacked one on top of the other and positioned so that the periphery18a, that is, the first sides 20a, the second sides 22a, the third sides24a, and the fourth sides 28a of the sheets of material 12a in the pad44 generally are aligned.

Referring to FIG. 2, the pad 44 further comprises a top sheet ofmaterial 46 and a next sheet of material 48 disposed thereunder, theother sheets of material 12a being disposed under the next sheet ofmaterial 48 in the pad 44 of the sheets of material 12a. Each sheet ofmaterial 12a in the pad 44 may have a bonding material 42 (not shown)disposed thereupon, near at least a portion of the periphery 18a of eachsheet of material 12a, and each sheet of material 12a having a bondingmaterial 42 thereon is bondingly connectable to a portion of anothersheet of material 12a for cooperating to connect the sheets of material12a into the pad 44.

The top sheet of material 46 is capable of being disconnected from thepad 44 of sheets of material 12a. When the top sheet of material 46 isdisconnected, the next sheet of material 48 forms the new top sheet ofmaterial 46, and the sheet of material 12a lying under the new top sheetof material 46 forms a new next sheet of material 48.

A bonding material 42 is disposed on each sheet of material 12a in thepad 44 and bondingly and releasably connects each sheet of material 12ato one other sheet of material 12a in the pad 44 whereby one of thesheets of material 12a can be releasably disconnected from another sheetof material 12a by pulling the sheets of material 12a apart. Further,the bonding material 42 bondingly and releasably connects each sheet ofmaterial 12a to portions of itself.

THE EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 4-5

Illustrated in FIGS. 4-5 is a modified material 10b which is constructedexactly like the material 10 shown in FIGS. 1-2 and described in detailpreviously except that the material 10b comprises a roll 50 of sheets ofmaterial 12b contained within a dispenser 52, as shown in FIG. 4. Theroll 50 contains a material 10b comprising a plurality of sheets ofmaterial 12b in the roll 50, the sheets of material 12b being connectedby perforations to form the roll 50 (the sheet of material 12b shownpartially detached and turned upward for illustration purposes only).Such a roll 50 may be provided without a dispenser 52 as well, as shownin FIG. 5. Such rolls 50 permit one sheet of material 12b to bewithdrawn from the roll 50, and the sheet of material 12b is detached orsevered from the roll 50. Alternatively, the roll 50 may be simply beformed as a continuous roll 50 without perforations, and the wrappingmaterial 10b may be withdrawn from the roll 50 and a portion may besevered into separate sheets of material 12b by serrated cutting edge(not shown) contained within the dispenser 52, or by a separate cuttingelement (not shown). Any number of sheets of material 12b may form theroll 50 as long as it is possible to withdraw at least one sheet ofmaterial 12b from the roll 50. It will be understood therefore that theroll 50 may comprise only one sheet of material 12b, without thedispenser 52 (not shown).

THE METHOD OF USE OF FIGS. 6-11

FIGS. 6-11 illustrate one method of use of the present invention. Thewrapping material 10a and the sheet of material 12a illustrated in thisembodiment and used in this method are constructed exactly the same asthe wrapping material 10a and the sheet of material 12a in FIG. 3 anddescribed in detail previously.

In a general method of use, a floral arrangement 32 is placed on the topsheet of material 46, the sheet of material 12a being sized to wrapabout and substantially surround and encompass the floral arrangement32. The sheet of material 12a is wrapped about the floral arrangement32, the sheet of material 12a simultaneously disconnecting from the pad44 of sheets of material 12a as the sheet of material 12a is wrappedabout the floral arrangement 32. A portion of the sheet of material 12a,such as the second side 22a of the sheet of material 12a, overlaps atleast one other portion of the sheet of material 12a. The overlappingportions of the sheet of material 12a are bonded to the sheet ofmaterial 12a by their contact with the bonding material 42a on the uppersurface 14a of the sheet of material 12a which bondingly contacts andengages the overlapped portions of the sheet of material 12a, wherebythe second side 22a of the sheet of material 12a is bonded tooverlapping portions of the sheet of material 12a generally between thethird side 24a and the fourth side 26a of the sheet of material 12awhereby there are no loose flaps formed by unbonded portions of thesheet of material 12a. The sheet of material 12a substantiallyencompasses and surrounds a substantial portion of the flower portion 34of the floral arrangement 32. The sheet of material 12a is held aboutthe floral arrangement 32 by the bonding contact of the overlappingportions of the sheet of material 12a, the sheet of material 12a beingtightly wrapped about the stem portion 36 of the floral arrangement 32.The sheet of material 12a wrapped about the floral arrangement 32 formsa cylindrically-shaped wrapping (FIG. 9), or, alternatively, aconically-shaped wrapping (FIG. 14), or, in further alternatives, mayform any geometric, non-geometric, or asymmetrical shaped wrapping. Bothshapes of wrapping shown herein have an opening extending through alower end 54 thereof and an opening extending through the upper end 56thereof with the stem portion 36 of the floral arrangement 32 extendingthrough the opening in the lower end 54 and the flower portion 34 of thefloral arrangement 32 being exposed near the opening in the upper end 56thereof, the upper end 56 of the wrapping being loosely wrapped aboutthe flower portion 34 of the floral arrangement 32.

FIGS. 6-11 show a one specific method of use. A plurality of sheets ofmaterial 12a in a pad 44, and a floral arrangement 32, as describedabove, are provided. The floral arrangement 32 is disposed on the topsheet of material 46 on the pad 44 of sheets of material 12a. Anoperator then lifts a portion of the top sheet 46 (generally the portionnear the second side 22a) and places the lifted portion over a portionof the floral arrangement 32, as shown in FIG. 7. In this position, thetop sheet of material 46 is rolled over the floral arrangement 32, andthe top sheet of material 46 and the floral arrangement 32 are rolled ina general direction 58 (FIGS. 7-8) whereby the top sheet of material 46and the floral arrangement 32 contained therein are lifted from the nextsheet of material 48 (FIG. 9), the floral arrangement 32 being rolledinto the top sheet of material 46, thereby rolling the top sheet ofmaterial 46 generally about the floral arrangement 32 and containing andsubstantially encompassing the floral arrangement 32 within the topsheet of material 46.

The top sheet of material 46 and the floral arrangement 32 containedtherein are continued rolled in a rolling direction 60 and in thedirection 58 generally toward the first side 20a of the top sheet ofmaterial 46 until the floral arrangement 32 is disposed generallyadjacent the first side 20a of the top sheet of material 46, as shown inFIG. 8. In this position, the operator continues to roll the top sheetof material 46 and the floral arrangement 32 disposed thereon in therolling direction 60 and in the general direction 58 thereby lifting thetop sheet of material 46 from the next sheet of material 48 and thereleasing the top sheet of material 46 from the bonding material 42adisposed on the next sheet of material 48, the next sheet of material 48generally beneath the top sheet of material 46 and simultaneouslydisconnecting the top sheet of material 46 from the bonding material 42aconnection between the top sheet of material 46 and the next sheet ofmaterial 48. The adjacent upper surface 14a of the second side 22a ofthe top sheet of material 46 is then bondingly connected to the bondingmaterial 42a on the upper surface 14a of the top sheet of material 46near the first side 20a, thereby securely wrapping the floralarrangement 32, as shown in FIG. 9, the method of wrapping permittingthe pull tab 28a and pull indicia 30a on the top sheet of material 46 tobe readily visible on the wrapped floral arrangement 32.

When the top sheet of material 46 has been secured about the floralarrangement 32 in the manner just described, the next sheet of material48, generally under the top sheet of material 46, then provides a newtop sheet of material 46, the sheet of material 12a under the new topsheet of material 46 providing a new next sheet of material 48, and theprocess can be repeated for wrapping additional or other floralarrangements 32.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show a method of removing the sheet of material 12a fromthe wrapped floral arrangement 32. The pull tab 28a and pull indicia 30aare located in a position on the wrapped sheet of material 12a which iseasily visible to the operator. The operator grasps the pull tab 28abetween his fingers (or between his thumb and at least one finger, byplacing at least one finger on one surface of the pull tab 28a and atleast one other finger on one other surface of the pull tab 28a), andpulls the portion of the sheet of material 12a surrounding the pull tab28a away from the underlying portion of the sheet of material 12a thatit overlapped and was bonded to. The bonding material 42a readilyreleases the portion of the sheet of material 12a surrounding the pulltab 30a from the underlying portion of the sheet of material 12a lyingdirectly thereunder, thus permitting quick and easy removal of the sheetof material 12a from the floral arrangement 32, said removal beingaccomplished without causing damage to the delicate floral arrangement32.

THE EMBODIMENT AND METHOD OF USE OF FIGS. 12-16

FIGS. 12-16 illustrate another embodiment and method of use of thepresent invention. The wrapping material 10c and sheet of material 12cillustrated in this embodiment and used in this method are constructedexactly the same as the wrapping material 10 and the sheet of material12 shown in FIGS. 1-2 and described in detail previously, except thatthe sheet of material 12c is not transparent, the pull indicia 30ccomprises both the word "Pull" and an arrow symbol pointing to thecorner junction of the first side 20c and the third side 24c of thesheet of material 12c, and the pull indicia 30c is printed on the lowersurface 16c of the sheet of material 12c.

A floral arrangement 32c is disposed upon the sheet of material 12c, inthe same manner shown in FIGS. 6-11 and described in detail previouslyfor the method of use of wrapping material 10a and the sheet of material12a, except that a single sheet of material 12c is utilized, and thewrapping material 10c forms generally a conical-shaped wrapping. Thesheet of material 12c is unwrapped from the floral arrangement 32c inexactly the same manner as shown herein and described in detailpreviously.

THE EMBODIMENT AND METHOD OF USE OF FIG. 17

FIG. 17 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. Thewrapping material 10d and sheet of material 12d illustrated in thisembodiment and used in this method are constructed exactly the same asthe wrapping material 10 and the sheet of material 12 shown in FIGS. 1-2and described in detail previously, except that the sheet of material12d has a pull indicia 30d of a circle with an arrow pointing to thecorner junction of the first side 20d and the third side 24d of thesheet of material 12d.

A floral arrangement 32d (not shown) is disposed upon the sheet ofmaterial 12d in the same manner shown in FIGS. 6-11 and described indetail previously for the method of use of wrapping material 10a and thesheet of material 12a, however, it will be appreciated that any methodof use shown or described herein may be utilized. The sheet of material12d is unwrapped from a floral arrangement 32d (not shown) in exactlythe same manner as shown herein and described in detail previously.

THE EMBODIMENT AND METHOD OF USE OF FIG. 18

FIG. 18 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. Thewrapping material 10e and sheet of material 12e illustrated in thisembodiment and used in this method are constructed exactly the same asthe wrapping material 10 and the sheet of material 12 shown in FIGS. 1-2and described in detail previously, except that the sheet of material12e has a first pull tab 28e and a second pull tab 28ee, a first pullindicia 30e and a second pull indicia 30ee, the first pull indicia 30ebeing disposed near the first pull tab 28e, and the second pull indicia30ee being disposed near the second pull tab 28ee, the first pull tab28e and pull indicia 30e being located near the corner junction of thefirst side 20e and the third side 24e of the sheet of material 12e, thesecond pull tab 28ee and pull indicia 30ee being located near the cornerjunction of the first side 20e and the fourth side 26e, the first pullindicia 30e comprising a circle with an arrow pointing to the cornerjunction of the first side 20e and the third side 24e of the sheet ofmaterial 12e, the second pull indicia 30ee comprising a circle with anarrow pointing to the corner junction of the first side 20e and thefourth side 26e of the sheet of material 12e.

A floral arrangement 32e (not shown) is disposed upon the sheet ofmaterial 12e in the same manner shown in FIGS. 6-11 and described indetail previously for the method of use of wrapping material 10a and thesheet of material 12a, however, it will be appreciated that any methodof use shown or described herein may be utilized. The sheet of material12e is unwrapped from a floral arrangement 32e (not shown) in exactlythe same manner as shown herein and described in detail previously,except that either the first pull tab 28e may be used to unwrap thefloral arrangement 32e, or the second pull tab 28ee may be used, or boththe first pull tab 28e and the second pull tab 28ee may be utilized toremove the sheet of material 12e from the floral arrangement 32e, ineither a concurrent or sequential manner.

THE EMBODIMENT AND METHOD OF USE OF FIG. 19

FIG. 19 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. Thewrapping material 10f and sheet of material 12f illustrated in thisembodiment and used in this method are constructed exactly the same asthe wrapping material 10 and the sheet of material 12 shown in FIGS. 1-2and described in detail previously, except that the sheet of material12f has a bonding material 42f strip which extends near the entirelength of the first side 20f, that is, from the third side 24f to thefourth side 26f, the pull tab 28f and pull indicia 30f being disposed oneither side of the bonding material 42f strip and near the third side24f, with the pull indicia 30f "Pull"on one side of the bonding material42f, and the pull indicia 30f symbol of an arrow disposed on the otherside of the bonding material 42f, that is, near to and pointing to thecorner junction of the first side 20f and the third side 24f of thesheet of material 12f.

A floral arrangement 32f (not shown) is disposed upon the sheet ofmaterial 12f in the same manner shown in FIGS. 6-11 and described indetail previously for the method of use of wrapping material 10a and thesheet of material 12a, however, it will be appreciated that any methodof use shown or described herein may be utilized. The sheet of material12f is unwrapped from a floral arrangement 32f (not shown) in exactlythe same manner as shown herein and described in detail previously.

THE EMBODIMENT AND METHOD OF USE OF FIG. 20

FIG. 20 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. Thewrapping material 10g and sheet of material 12g illustrated in thisembodiment and used in this method are constructed exactly the same asthe wrapping material 10 and the sheet of material 12 shown in FIGS. 1-2and described in detail previously, except that the sheet of material12g has a bonding material 42g strip which extends the entire length ofthe sheet of material 12g near the first side 20g, from the third side24g to the fourth side 26g, the pull tab 28g and pull indicia 30g beingnear the end of the bonding material 42g strip, that is, near the thirdside 24g of the sheet of material 12g and near the corner junction ofthe first side 20g and the third side 24g of the sheet of material 12g,the bonding characteristics or "tack" of the bonding material 42g beingdecreased, as described previously, at the site of the pull tab 28g andpull indicia 30g to enhance an operator's ability to grasp the pull tab28g and remove the sheet of material 12g from a floral arrangement 32g.

A floral arrangement 32g (not shown) is disposed upon the sheet ofmaterial 12g in the same manner shown in FIGS. 6-11 and described indetail previously for the method of use of wrapping material 10a and thesheet of material 12a, however, it will be appreciated that any methodof use shown or described herein may be utilized. The sheet of material12g is unwrapped from a floral arrangement 32g (not shown) in exactlythe same manner as shown herein and described in detail previously,except that, in a further alternative, the sheet of material 12g may beremoved from the floral arrangement 32g by the operator first insertinga finger (or fingers) under the pull tab 28g on the outer wrapped layerof the sheet of material 12g at the point indicated by the pull indicia30g to grasp the pull tat 28g for removal of the sheet of material 12g.

THE EMBODIMENT AND METHOD OF USE OF FIG. 21

FIG. 21 illustrates still another embodiment of the present invention.The wrapping material 10h and sheet of material 12h illustrated in thisembodiment and used in this method are constructed exactly the same asthe wrapping material 10 and the sheet of material 12 shown in FIGS. 1-2and described in detail previously, except that the sheet of material12h is die-cut into a trapezoidal shape and has a scalloped design cutinto the third side 24h of the sheet of material 12h, the bondingmaterial 42h is a strip of bonding material 42h which is disposedgenerally between the first side 20h and the second side 22h of thesheet of material 12h, the bonding material 42h disposed near the fourthside 26h, and the pull tab 28h has been die-cut as an extension of thesheet of material 12h, and the pull tab 28h has pull indicia 30hrepresented as an arrow thereon. The pull tab 28h is situated slightlyabove the bonding material 42h, on the first side of the sheet ofmaterial 12h and near the corner junction of the first side 20h and thefourth side 26h of the sheet of material 12h.

A floral arrangement 32h (not shown) is disposed upon the sheet ofmaterial 12h in the same manner shown in FIGS. 6-11 and described indetail previously for the method of use of wrapping material 10a and thesheet of material 12a, however, it will be appreciated that any methodof use shown or described herein may be utilized. The sheet of material12h is unwrapped from a floral arrangement 32h in exactly the samemanner as shown herein and described in detail previously.

THE EMBODIMENT AND METHOD OF USE OF FIGS. 22-25

FIGS. 22-25 illustrate still another embodiment of the present inventionand method of use of the present invention. The wrapping material 10iand sheet of material 12i illustrated in this embodiment and used inthis method are constructed exactly the same as the wrapping material10h and the sheet of material 12h shown in FIG. 21 (wrapping material10h and sheet of material 12h being exactly like FIGS. 1-2 and describedin detail previously, except for the differences described above) exceptthat, as shown in FIG. 22, the pull tab 28i is die-cut adjacent thebonding material strip 42i, the pull tab 28i being located on the firstside 20i of the sheet of material 12i and in the corner junction of thefirst side 20i and the fourth side 26i of the sheet of material 12i.

A floral arrangement 32i is disposed upon the sheet of material 12i inthe same manner shown in FIGS. 6-11 and described in detail previouslyfor the method of use of wrapping material 10a and the sheet of material12a, however, it will be appreciated that any method of use shown ordescribed herein may be utilized (FIG. 23). The sheet of material 12i isunwrapped from a floral arrangement 32i in exactly the same manner asshown herein and described in detail previously, as shown in FIGS.24-25.

Changes may be made in the embodiments of the invention describedherein, or in parts or elements of the embodiments described herein, orin the sequence of steps of the methods described herein, withoutdeparting from the spirit and/or scope of the invention as defined inthe following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for both wrapping a wrapping materialabout a floral arrangement and removing said wrapping material from saidwrapped floral arrangement, comprising the steps of:providing a wrappingmaterial for wrapping a floral arrangement, comprising:a sheet ofmaterial having an upper surface, a lower surface and an outerperiphery, the sheet of material further comprising a pull tab havingpull indicia thereon, the pull tab sized to be grasped between anoperator's thumb and forefinger, bonding material disposed on the sheetof material, the sheet of material sized to wrap about and substantiallysurround and encompass a floral arrangement; providing a floralarrangement having an upper end consisting of a flower portion and alower end consisting of a stem portion; disposing the floral arrangementon the sheet of material; wrapping the sheet of material about thefloral arrangement by overlapping at least one portion of the sheet ofmaterial with at least one other portion of the sheet of material, oneportion of the sheet of material thereby bondingly contacting andbondingly engaging to at least one other portion of the sheet ofmaterial, the portions of the sheet of material overlapped so that thepull tab and the pull indicia are exposed on the outside of thewrapping, at least a portion of the pull tab overlapping at least aportion of the sheet of material, said portion of the pull tab bondinglycontacting and bondingly connecting to said portion of the sheet ofmaterial, the sheet of material thereby substantially encompassing andsurrounding a substantial portion of the floral arrangement; releasingthe pull tab from the sheet of material by grasping the pull tab betweenan operator's thumb and forefinger and lifting the pull tab away fromthe sheet of material; and removing said sheet of material from saidfloral arrangement by pulling the pull tab, said pulling causing theoverlapped portion of the sheet of material surrounding the pull tab tolift away from the underlying portion of the sheet of material, therebyreleasing the bond and causing the sheet of material to gently unwrapfrom the floral arrangement, said unwrapping and removal of the sheet ofmaterial being accomplished without tearing said sheet of material andwithout causing damage to the floral arrangement.
 2. The method of claim1 wherein the step of providing a wrapping material further comprisesproviding the sheet of material wherein the outer periphery of the sheetof material further comprises a first side, a second side, a third sideand a fourth side.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step ofproviding a wrapping material further comprises providing the sheet ofmaterial having thickness in a range from less than 1 mil to about 30mils.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing a wrappingmaterial further comprises providing the sheet of material having athickness in a range of less than about 0.2 mils to about 10 mils. 5.The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing a wrapping materialfurther comprises providing the sheet of material having a thickness ina range of less than about 0.5 mils to about 2.5 mils.
 6. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the step of providing a wrapping material furthercomprises providing the sheet of material selected from the group ofmaterials consisting of paper (treated or untreated), cellophane, foil,polymer film, cellulose (including cellophane), fiber (woven or nonwovenor natural or synthetic), cloth (woven or nonwoven or natural orsynthetic), burlap, or any combination thereof.
 7. The method of claim 1wherein the step of providing a wrapping material further comprisesproviding a plurality of sheets of material connected together to form aroll of sheets of material, and further comprising:withdrawing one sheetof material from the roll; and severing the one sheet of material fromthe roll.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing awrapping material further comprises providing a plurality of sheets ofmaterial connected together to form a roll of sheets of material, andfurther comprising:unrolling a portion of the wrapping material from theroll; and severing the unrolled portion of the material from the roll ofmaterial to form the sheet of material.
 9. The method of claim 1 whereinthe step of providing a wrapping material further comprises providingthe sheet of material having a pull tab wherein the pull tab comprisesan integral part of the sheet of material.
 10. The method of claim 1wherein the step of providing a wrapping material further comprisesproviding the sheet of material having a pull tab wherein the pull tabcomprises a separate second sheet of material.
 11. The method of claim 1wherein the step of wrapping the sheet of material about the floralarrangement further comprises forming a wrapping which is conicallyshaped.
 12. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of wrapping the sheetof material about the floral arrangement further comprises forming awrapping which is cylindrically shaped.
 13. The method of claim 1wherein the step of providing a wrapping material further comprisesproviding a plurality of sheets of material, each sheet of materialhaving an upper surface, a lower surface, and an outer periphery,wherein the plurality of sheets of material together comprise a pad ofsheets of material, the pad comprising a top sheet of material and anext sheet of material disposed thereunder, the other sheets of materialbeing disposed under the next sheet of material in the pad of sheets ofmaterial, and wherein each sheet of material is releasably removablefrom the pad by pulling each sheet of material apart from an adjacentsheet of material.
 14. The method of claim 1 wherein the step ofproviding a wrapping material further comprises providing the sheet ofmaterial which further comprises an adhesive.
 15. The method of claim 1wherein the step of providing a wrapping material further comprisesproviding the sheet of material which further comprises a cohesive. 16.A method for both wrapping a wrapping material about a floralarrangement and removing said wrapping material from said wrapped floralarrangement, comprising the steps of:providing a wrapping material forwrapping a floral arrangement, comprising:a sheet of material having anupper surface, a lower surface and an outer periphery, the sheet ofmaterial further comprising a pull tab having pull indicia thereon, thepull tab sized to be grasped between an operator's thumb and forefinger,bonding material disposed on the sheet of material, said bondingmaterial comprising a pressure sensitive adhesive, the sheet of materialsized to wrap about and substantially surround and encompass a floralarrangement; providing a floral arrangement having an upper endconsisting of a flower portion and a lower end consisting of a stemportion; disposing the floral arrangement on the sheet of material;wrapping the sheet of material about the floral arrangement byoverlapping at least one portion of the sheet of material with at leastone other portion of the sheet of material, one portion of the sheet ofmaterial thereby bondingly contacting and bondingly engaging to at leastone other portion of the sheet of material such that there are no looseflaps, the portions of the sheet of material overlapped so that the pulltab and the pull indicia are exposed on the outside of the wrapping, atleast a portion of the pull tab overlapping at least a portion of thesheet of material, the sheet of material substantially encompassing andsurrounding a substantial portion of the floral arrangement; andremoving said sheet of material from said floral arrangement by graspingthe pull tab between an operator's thumb and forefinger and pulling thepull tab, said pulling causing the overlapped portion of the sheet ofmaterial surrounding the pull tab to lift away from the underlyingportion of the sheet of material, thereby releasing the bond and causingthe sheet of material to gently unwrap from the floral arrangement, saidunwrapping and removal of the sheet of material being accomplishedwithout tearing said sheet of material and without causing damage to thefloral arrangement.
 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the step ofproviding a wrapping material further comprises providing the sheet ofmaterial having a pull tab wherein the pull tab comprises a separatesecond sheet of material.